Launch Site Guide

Launch Site is the crown jewel of Rust monuments -- the highest risk, highest reward location on any map. It features the iconic space rocket assembly building, multiple auxiliary structures, heavy radiation, a Bradley APC patrol, and the most valuable loot in the game.

Monument layout: - The monument is roughly rectangular, centered around the massive rocket assembly building (the tallest structure in Rust). - Surrounding the rocket building are several auxiliary structures: office buildings, warehouses, cooling towers, and maintenance sheds. - A wide road leads into the monument from the main map road system. - The compound is enclosed by chain-link fencing and concrete barriers. - The Bradley APC patrols the roads within the compound perimeter.

Building identification: - Rocket Building: The massive structure housing the rocket. Contains the red keycard puzzle and Elite Crate on the top floor. Extremely high radiation inside. - Main Office: A multi-story office building near the entrance. Contains regular and military crate spawns. Moderate radiation. - Maintenance Shed: Smaller buildings scattered around. Contains barrels and regular crate spawns. Low radiation. - Scaffolding structures: Metal scaffolding along the exterior walls. Used as safe positions for fighting Bradley APC. - Underground tunnel: A passage beneath the monument connects certain buildings. Contains crate spawns and provides sheltered movement between areas.

First visit preparation: Before your first Launch Site run, gather the following: Hazmat Suit (mandatory), green/blue/red keycards (for full puzzle completion), 2 fuses, a mid-tier weapon with 200+ rounds, 10+ medical syringes, 15+ bandages, radiation pills (3-5), food, and water. Optional: Pure Anti-Rad Tea for radiation zones, a Compound Bow for silent scientist kills.

The Bradley APC is a heavily armored vehicle that patrols Launch Site. It is both a threat and an opportunity -- destroying it yields valuable locked crates, but ignoring it means navigating around its deadly patrol route.

Bradley patrol pattern: The APC drives a roughly circular route around the rocket building, following the paved roads. It pauses at certain waypoints before continuing. The full circuit takes 3-4 minutes. When it detects a player within 75 meters, it stops, rotates its turret toward the threat, and opens fire with its cannon and machine gun.

Avoiding Bradley: If you do not want to fight Bradley, track its position as you enter the monument. Wait for it to move to the far side of its patrol route, then cross through areas it has already passed. You have approximately 90 seconds of safe movement before it returns. Stay behind buildings and use structures as line-of-sight blockers.

Destroying Bradley (quick reference): - 7 HV Rockets from the scaffolding (safest method). - 2 C4 thrown onto the vehicle. - 3 regular rockets. - From elevated positions where Bradley cannot angle its cannon upward.

Bradley loot: Two locked crates drop near the wreckage, each taking 15 minutes to unlock. Contents rival Oil Rig loot: AK-47s, LR-300s, explosives, armor, and high-value components.

Bradley timing for monument runs: If you plan to run the keycard puzzle and fight Bradley, decide which to do first. Fighting Bradley first draws attention (explosions attract players) but clears the patrol threat. Running the puzzle first lets you loot quietly but means navigating around Bradley during your loot run. On busy servers, speed matters -- the longer you spend at Launch Site, the higher the chance of a PvP encounter.

Bradley respawn: 60 minutes after destruction. If you plan multiple Launch Site runs, note the kill time and return after the respawn timer completes.

Launch Site features the full green-blue-red keycard progression, culminating in access to the Elite Crate room at the top of the rocket building.

Step-by-step puzzle route:

1. Green card puzzle:
2. Locate the office building near the main entrance.
3. Find the fuse box on the exterior wall. Insert a fuse.
4. Swipe the green keycard at the green card reader on the door.
5. Loot the room (1-2 military crates, potential blue keycard spawn).

1. Blue card puzzle:
2. Navigate to the rocket building's ground floor entrance.
3. Find the fuse box for the blue card puzzle (on the wall near the stairwell entrance).
4. Insert a fuse.
5. Swipe the blue keycard at the blue card reader.
6. Proceed through the door and up the stairwell.
7. Loot any crates in the blue card area (1-2 military crates).

1. Red card puzzle:
2. Continue upward through the rocket building interior.
3. The radiation inside is severe -- 20-30 rads/second in some sections. Hazmat Suit is mandatory. Pop radiation pills if your rad level climbs too high.
4. Reach the upper floor where the red card reader is located.
5. Swipe the red keycard.
6. Inside the red card room: the Elite Crate, the ultimate prize.

Total keycards and fuses needed: 1 green keycard, 1 blue keycard, 1 red keycard, 2 fuses. All are consumed on use.

Radiation management during the puzzle: The rocket building interior has the highest radiation in the game. Even with a Hazmat Suit, you accumulate rads quickly. Move fast through high-rad sections. Pop radiation pills at 50-60% rad level to prevent damage. Pure Anti-Rad Tea stacked with the Hazmat Suit makes the run significantly more comfortable.

Timing: A practiced player can complete the full puzzle (green through red) in approximately 8-12 minutes, including scientist kills and navigation. Add time for Bradley avoidance or combat.

The Elite Crate at the top of the rocket building is the single most valuable loot container accessible through a keycard puzzle in Rust.

Elite Crate contents (possible drops): - Assault Rifle (AK-47) - LR-300 Assault Rifle - Bolt Action Rifle - L96 Rifle - M249 Light Machine Gun (rare) - Timed Explosive Charge (C4) - Rockets - Metal Facemask - Metal Chestplate - 4x Zoom Scope - MLRS Rockets (rare) - High-quality Metal (50-100) - Tech Trash (multiple)

Elite Crate respawn: Approximately 30-60 minutes after being looted. The exact timer varies by server settings. On a standard vanilla server, returning every 45-60 minutes gives consistent results.

Radiation zone map within Launch Site: - Exterior (roads, open areas): Low radiation (1-5 rads/s). Basic clothing works. - Auxiliary buildings (offices, sheds): Low-moderate radiation (5-10 rads/s). Hazmat recommended. - Rocket building ground floor: Moderate radiation (10-15 rads/s). Hazmat required. - Rocket building upper floors: High radiation (15-25 rads/s). Hazmat + rad pills required. - Rocket building top section: Extreme radiation (25-35 rads/s). Hazmat + rad pills + fast movement required. Do not linger.

Radiation survival strategy: 1. Enter the rocket building with low accumulated rads (under 10%). 2. Move quickly through each floor, pausing only to fight scientists. 3. At the 50% rad level, pop a radiation pill (removes 25 rads). 4. Continue upward. At 50% again, pop another pill. 5. Loot the Elite Crate as fast as possible. 6. Exit the building immediately. Do not explore additional rooms. 7. Once outside, your rad level begins dropping naturally.

Bring 5 radiation pills for a comfortable run. 3 pills is the minimum for experienced players who move quickly.

Successfully looting Launch Site is only half the challenge. Extracting your loot safely through one of the most contested areas on the map is the other half.

Primary escape routes: 1. Main road exit: The most direct route back to civilized map areas. Also the most predictable -- enemies often camp the road exit. Use this route only when you are confident the area is clear. 2. Side fence exit: The chain-link fencing around Launch Site has gaps and jumpable sections. Exit through the side facing your base for a more direct path. Less likely to be camped than the main road. 3. Underground tunnel: Some Launch Site layouts include tunnel exits that emerge outside the monument perimeter. These are the stealthiest exit option. 4. Aerial extraction: If you have a minicopter hidden outside the monument, fly home. This is the fastest and safest extraction method but requires advance preparation.

Counter-play awareness: - After fighting Bradley or running the puzzle, assume that other players heard the gunfire and are converging on your position. The sound of Bradley's cannon and your rifle echoes across multiple grid squares. - Check all angles before exiting any building. Players camp behind walls, on rooftops, and behind rocks near monument exits. - Move unpredictably during extraction. Do not run in a straight line on the road. Cut through trees, zigzag between rocks, and vary your path. - If carrying a significant haul (Elite Crate loot), consider splitting the loot with a teammate. Each player takes a different route home. Even if one person is killed, half the loot survives.

Anti-camper tactics: - Before exiting the monument, peek the surrounding terrain from an elevated position (top of a building or scaffolding). Scan for players hiding in common camping spots. - Use the monument's CCTV cameras from a Computer Station before traveling to Launch Site. If you see players already there, wait or choose a different monument. - Place a sleeping bag hidden outside the monument before entering. If you die during extraction, respawn and attempt a body recovery.

Solo extraction protocol: As a solo player, you are most vulnerable during extraction because you cannot have a teammate scout ahead. Use the side fence exits, travel through terrain rather than roads, and prioritize speed over caution. A solo player jogging through dense forest is nearly impossible to track. Avoid roads entirely on the way home.